An unusually low death rate from myocardial infarction, less than half that of the surrounding communities, was observed in the Italian-American community of Roseto, Pa, during the seven-year period from 1955 to 1961. The low death rate, observed in both sexes, was particularly striking among the males. There were no deaths of either sex under the age of 47 recorded from myocardial infarction during the study. Whether the relative freedom of Rosetans from death from myocardial infarction is related to their way of life or to genetic or ethnic factors remains to be determined. It would seem, however, that in this community, obesity and a generous consumption of calories, fat, and wine were actually associated with a strikingly low death rate from myocardial infarction.